Gargo rack cover

ABSTRACT

A cargo rack cover designed for the pick up truck and four post utility cargo rack which extends above the truck bed and cab which is mounted on the walls or bed of the truck which is fabric based, attached under the cargo rack and frame creating a weather resistant shell for the protection of goods in the bed or on the cargo rack.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application relies on a previously filed provisional application60/680,341 filed: May 12, 2005

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND

The cargo rack was created 30 to 40 years ago. It was created tomaximize the hauling capabilities of pick up trucks. Pick up trucks havelimits on the length of items that can safely be carried in the bed ofthe truck. A cargo rack allows the truck to carry long items (cargos,lumber, pipe, etc.) safely above the bed and cab of the truck whileallowing the bed of the pick up truck to be free to carry other smalleritems.

Pick up truck bed covers have been around in different forms since thepick up truck was created. Truck bed covers have evolved from thesimplest tarp laid over the truck bed and contents to truck bed shellswhich use fiberglass to enclose the bed of the truck. People havecreated different truck bed covers for individual needs. The functionand capabilities of these covers vary from one to the other. Truck bedcovers are built for protection from weather, theft, camping, etc. Thearray of truck bed covers that now exist are classified as thefiberglass/hard shell, fabric convertible shell, hard and soft Tonneaucovers, truck bed tents, and camper shells.

1. Prior Art

The cargo cover of the current invention differs from prior inventionsrelating to truck campers like the Cornelius invention U.S. Pat. No.6,439,646 or Sidlinger U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,894 as the current inventionattaches to a cargo or lumber rack (like James U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,540)which extends over the cab of a pickup truck for the purpose of carryinglong and heavy materials such as cargos or lumber, unlike prior art. Thecargo cover of the present invention allows for coverage and protectionof materials stored within the confines of the truck and cargo rack yetallowing complete exposure to the horizontal upper supports of the cargorack for the transportation of lengthy, heavy materials.

Furthermore, the Cornelius invention is supported by an inner frame. Thecurrent invention is supported or hung from within the outer frame ofthe cargo rack, allowing complete use of the outer frame for cargo.

The cargo cover of the current invention differs from prior inventionsrelating to framed covers like Brown U.S. Pat. No. 3,354,891 and IngramU.S. Pat. No. 5,423,587 as the current invention is not supported by aninner frame and does not lay on or attach to a frame uder its body.

The cargo cover of the current device is an improvement over allexisting art as the cargo cover of the existing invention hangs withinthe frame of the trucks cargo or lumber rack, exposing all horizontalmembers of the cargo rack for stacking and hanging payloads withoutdamaging the cargo cover. The current invention is designed to protectthose payloads inside and under the trucks cargo rack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cargo rack cover is designed for the pick up truck that has a cargorack mounted on the bed of the truck which extends over the cab. Thedevice is a fabric based tarp or cover attached under the cargo rack andbed of the pick up truck, creating a weather resistant shell for theprotection of goods in the bed of the pick up.

The materials used in the construction of the cargo rack cover arefabric, webbing, clear vinyl, zippers, snaps, and VELCRO. The fabricattaches around the legs of the cargo rack with zippers (can be attachedrope, buttons, snaps, VELCRO, etc,). At the top of the legs the fabrichas VELCRO collars which rap around the legs helping to attach the tarpand in creating a weather resistant seal. The base of the tarp attachesto the top of the bed of the truck using snaps (can be rope, buttons,VELCRO, etc.). The top of the tarp is suspended below the top of thecargo rack by VELCRO straps (can be hooks, buckled straps, etc.). Thestraps wrap around the crossbars, and cables that can be installed inplace of missing crossbars, providing further support for the top of thetarp. The tarp has clear vinyl windows in both the front and back. Thesewindows provide both visibility for the driver of the truck, and accessas the windows can be unzipped. The sides of the tarp also have panels(can be windows if desired) that unzip to allow access to bed of thetruck. For extra support there are cables run inside tarp from one legof the cargo rack to the other on both sides of the tarp. The roof ofthe tarp can have tent poles installed to keep the rain and snow frompooling on the top of the tarp.

The cargo rack cover of the invention differs from prior inventionsrelating to truck bed covers as the cargo rack cover does not maintainor make claim to any solid support system or framing. The cargo rackcover is attached under the cargo rack and truck bead by VELCROstrapping and snaps, protecting materials stored on the rack or in thebed of the truck from the elements

The cargo rack cover of the invention differs from prior inventionsrelating to truck bed storage racks or cargo racks as the cargo rackcover does not maintain or make claim to any solid framing, rack ormaterial carrying capabilities. The cargo rack cover is a protectivecover for materials contained under the related rack.

ILLLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1 A perspective view of the rear and right side of the device.

FIG. 2 A perspective view of the right side of the device.

FIG. 3 A perspective view of the right side of the device with all sideand rear vinyl windows rolled up to allow access to the bed of the truckfrom all angles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the pickup cargo rack cover of thepresent invention is used in conjunction with a standard pickup truckshown generally at numeral 1 for protecting cargo therein from weatherand other external elements. The pickup truck usually has an open bedhaving upwardly projecting parallel sidewalls 2, a rear wall 3 whichusually has a tailgate and an upwardly projecting front wall. Each sidewall 2 has a substantially planar upper surface 4.

Referring now to FIG. 3, numerals 12 and 13 depict the device as it isrolled up and stored as to access the contents of the truck. Numeral 11illustrates the upright members of the cargo rack mounted above the sidewalls of the truck. The truck bed is defined by numerals 14, the frontwall of the truck bed and numeral 15, the rear wall of the truck bed.

The device comprises a cover 5 preferably made with nylon, canvas or asimilar durable weather resistant material. The cover 5 has asubstantially rectangular configuration forming a box type enclosurewhen placed over the frame members having a pair of side walls 6, and arear panel 7. Securing the cover member 5 to the cargo frame 8 membersare VELCRO straps 9 and cables 10.

The cover side and rear panels 11 has a substantially transparent windowhaving four peripheral edges made from a shatter resistant material suchas plastic or clear vinyl. Surrounding and substantially parallel tothree of the peripheral edges of the window 11 is an access zipper 12for selectively enclosing the cover and providing an access to theinterior thereof.

1. A cargo rack cover for mounting under a pickup truck cargo rackcomprising: an all weather cover adapted to attach to, and securely fitunder, a cargo rack frame which extends over a truck bed and cab, thecover including a plurality of panels, wherein each panel has a firstclosed position which seals the cargo rack cover to a second openposition which allows access through the cover front and sides to theinterior of the truck bed; and attachment straps on the upper, outsideroof panel to support the roof of the cargo rack cover and attachmentstraps for the vertical support rails on each corner of the cargo rack.2. A cargo rack cover according to claim 1, wherein clear vinyl windowsare affixed to both sides and rear of the device.
 3. A cargo rack cover,according to claim 1, wherein the cargo rack cover maintains straps toaffix the rear, left and right sides to the upper horizontal supports ofthe cargo rack.
 4. A cargo rack cover, according to claim 1, wherein thesides or back of the cover can be temporarily affixed in an upward oropen position to allow easy access to materials within the truck or onthe cargo rack.
 5. A cargo rack cover to be temporarily connected to apick up truck and cargo rack having an open bed with front and rearwalls for the purpose of creating a weather resistant shell for theprotection of goods in the bed or on the cargo rack.
 7. A cargo rackcover, according to claim 1, wherein the cargo rack cover can be rolledup and stored on the cargo rack when not in use.